With interest, I looked clicked on a link to a popular post where Dr. Duckworth was giving her Hard Thing Rules advice to parents who wanted to help create a foundation for a child’s later success.

What were her pearls of wisdom?

Everyone in the family has to do something hard.

You have to finish what you start.

No one gets to pick a hard rule for yourself.

Hmm. A little disappointing. If you a parent of a dyslexic child. It sounds a bit like advice from someone whose kids have it pretty easy.

No finger pointing is intended here, but it’s quite a different thing if you are dyslexic yourself.

Dyslexic kids and adults already live gritty lives because not only are they doing hard things because of the challenges associated with dyslexia, but they often pursue dreams that at some level might seem hopeless at best and ridiculous to others at worst.

There are other important take-home points that Duckworth has to encourage people to become more gritty.

1. Do what you love.
2. Work hard at it.
3. Find Purpose.
4. Have Hope.
5. Hang out with Gritty People. (really agree with this one – lots of potentially ‘bad’ company)

But another absolute essential we’d add to this list:

6. Don’t take ‘No’ for an answer.

So many people we’ve interviewed have told us how they had been discouraged from pursuing their dreams. It’s more the norm than the exception, but hopefully that will change. What about you? What should we add to this list?

Leave a comment here or email us with your advice at team @ dyslexicadvantage.org and we’ll share it here (anonymous just fine!)